2 killed,12 injured as LPG tanker explodes in Mankhurd

Govandi police said the incident occurred around 1.40 am on the Sion-Panvel road. The tanker,carrying 18 tonnes of LPG,was headed towards Mankhurd signal.

“The tanker was probably moving at high speed and the driver lost control. It veered to the left side of the flyover and hit the pillars lining it,turning turtle in the process. The trailer separated from the cabin and plunged 20 feet into a ditch,” said Additional Commissioner of Police Quaiser Khalid,East region.

According to eyewitnesses,driver Vijayendra Pandey managed to climb out of the cabin unhurt and ran to safety a few feet away. However,after waiting for 10 minutes,he went back to the cabin to retrieve his cell phone. As he was approaching the cabin,an explosion occurred,believed to have been caused after LPG leaking from the tanker came in contact with sparks from the cabin. The blast threw Pandey several feet into the air,killing him,they said.

The blaze spread to a construction site near the ditch,injuring 14 labourers staying in temporary shelters. They were rushed to Sion and Rajawadi hospitals.

“We were fast asleep. My nephew,his wife and her brother were sleeping under the flyover close to the accident spot. All of them are critical and we’re praying for their lives,” said Abdul Shaikh.

Another victim,35-year-old Bhaiyya Rawat,suffered 35 per cent burns on his arms,legs and face. “The only reason most of us survived was because it happened in an open space,” said Rawat.

Meanwhile,fire tenders from the nearest fire station and BARC were rushed to the spot. “We blocked the road for traffic immediately. Vegetable trucks enter Mumbai from APMC market through this road. It was dangerous for any vehicle to enter this area,” Khalid said.

Till Monday afternoon,fire tenders were spraying water on the tanker to keep the gas cool and prevent another explosion,while flames continued to spew from the three broken valves of the truck. The tanker was removed using a crane in the presence of BPCL officials after the gas had burnt out.

Six patients suffered 5-35 per cent burns while seven suffered over 90 per cent burns. “It is too early to say anything about the discharge of patients,” said Sion Hospital dean Dr Suleman Merchant.